August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Auditions
Schedule
Thu Mar 23 2023 at 06:00 pm
Location
Columbia Entertainment Company | Columbia, MO
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Audition InfoAuditions for August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom will be held Thursday, March 23, 2023.
In person auditions will be held from 6:00pm - 10:00pm at Columbia Entertainment Company (CEC), 1800 Nelwood Drive, Columbia, Mo.
If you are unable to attend auditions in person, video submissions are accepted. Video submissions must be received by 11:59pm Wednesday, March 22, 2023. For video submission please prepare a dramatic monologue. Please note: Your video must be prepared and hosted online before you complete this form (because you will provide a link to it online in a section at the end).
Casting is open and welcoming to all ages, gender identities, orientation, and ethnicities. We welcome anyone to audition for the role they wish. Understudies will be cast in this production.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. Sides will be provided at auditions.
If submitting a video audition, you will provide a link to your video submission on this form. You must have your video ready at the time you complete this form.
SYNOPSIS:
It's 1927 and Ma Rainey, the "Mother of the Blues," is recording new sides of old favorites in a rundown studio in Chicago. Fiery and determined, Ma Rainey fights to retain control over her music, while her cocky trumpet player Levee dreams of making his own name in the business. More than music goes down in August Wilson's riveting portrayal of rage, racism, self-hatred and exploitation.
REHEARSAL SCHEDULE:
Week One: March 27th, 30th, and 31st
Week Two: April 4th and 6th
Week Three: April 10th, 11th, and 13th
Week Four: April 17th and 19th
TECH WEEK:
April 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
The show runs April 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th
Thursday-Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m., and the Sunday performance begins at 2 p.m.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
All parts are for ages 18+. Casting includes 5 Black males, 3 White males, and 2 Black females
Levee (Black, male identifying, mid-late 30s): Levee is a young Black trumpet player in Ma Rainey’s band. A confident, ambitious man, he’s unsatisfied with his role as an accompanying musician.
Ma Rainey (Black, female identifying, 40-55): Ma Rainey was a real-life Black musician famous for singing the blues in the early 20th century. Often hailed as the “Mother of the Blues,” she was an important artist in the genre’s development and popularity. In the play, she is very aware of her own influence and knows how to use it to her advantage.
Cutler (Black, male identifying, 40-55): Cutler is a Black guitar and trombone player in Ma Rainey’s band. He is the group’s unofficial leader, making sure the band plays whatever Ma wants.
Toledo (Black, male identifying, 40-55) Toledo is a Black musician in Ma Rainey’s band. A piano player who enjoys speaking philosophically about life and what it’s like to be Black in the United States, Toledo is the only literate member of the band.
Slow Drag (Black, male identifying, 40-55): Slow Drag is a Black musician in Ma Rainey’s band. A bass player, he seems slow and unobservant but is actually quite intelligent.
Sturdyvant (White, male identifying, 40-55) Sturdyvant is a White executive in the music industry. Although it’s never explicitly stated in the play, he seems to own the recording label that puts out Ma Rainey’s music.
Irvin (White, male identifying, 40-55) Irvin is a White executive in the music industry. He works alongside Sturdyvant, though he’s technically Ma Rainey’s manager.
Sylvester (Black, male identifying, 18-20) Sylvester is Ma’s nephew. Ma brings him to the recording session and announces that he will be performing a spoken-word intro for the song “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”
Dussie Mae (Black, female identifying, 20-30) Dussie Mae is a young woman who travels with Ma. Although it’s never explicitly stated in the play, it’s implied that Dussie Mae and Ma are romantically involved.
Police Officer (White, male identifying, any age)
*Anyone interested in the female characters should be prepared to sing something a capella (preferably in the genres of jazz/blues/gospel). Playing an instrument for a band role is not required.
For further questions please contact the directors Les Gray and Raynesha Green ([email protected] and [email protected])
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Where is it happening?
Columbia Entertainment Company, 1800 Nelwood Dr,Columbia,MO,United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays: